Trenton's reputation, downfall

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by nybbler

I don't really see much pressure for gentrification in Trenton, though; as you say, nobody's priced out of Philadelphia (and it's a bit far to boot), and there's nothing in Trenton aside from the state government.

Gentrification many times starts with some kind of arts community-folks who want dirt cheap live/work space because they're interested in pursuing their craft and usually aren't making very much money at it or whatever day job they have. There is a small colony of artists working in the city now led by a guy who once worked at the Johnson Atelier complex in nearby Hamilton. He bought an abandoned factory building from the city for $1 and began moving folks in who are doing everything from art to small scale urban farming. Then there is Terracycle, a sustainablity startup headed by a Princeton University student which chose to locate in the city-they do recycling of just about anything you can think of. There are also a handful of manufacturers who chose to stay in the city (and the country for that matter) like Home Rubber, Hutchinson Industries, and Power Magnetics that all employ local people with good paying jobs, but there are still countless empty hulks of factories that will likely never be occupied again.

There's a small crew of hipster types who gather at the Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton Social (on Broad Street across from the area next to the now closed Conduit rock club), and other hole in the wall bars in the area. Then there are the young professionals, older professionals with no kids, and gay couples who live in places like Mill Hill, Berkeley Heights, Hiltonia, and the Island Neighborhood. However, despite all of this they haven't really hit the critical mass that turned the tide in places like Brooklyn, Northern Liberties, Boston's North End and other examples of urban renewal. When/if it will happen is anyone's guess. Every neighborhood has it's own quirks and unique circumstances and there's no one formula or strategy that is a one-size-fits-all solution. Needless to say I'd love to see it happen. Like a lot of folks who grew up in nearby Hamilton, I had deep roots in the city. I was born there, spent a lot of time with family there, was baptized, made first communion and confirmation there, and of course ate a lot of great meals there. Unfortunately there's a long way to go. Trenton was a very different place when my mom (born and raised there) was my age. Perhaps it will be a very different place once again when my daughter (just turned one) is my age.

[green_mariner]

There's a small crew of hipster types who gather at the Mill Hill Saloon, Trenton Social (on Broad Street across from the area next to the now closed Conduit rock club), and other hole in the wall bars in the area. Then there are the young professionals, older professionals with no kids, and gay couples who live in places like Mill Hill, Berkeley Heights, Hiltonia, and the Island Neighborhood. However, despite all of this they haven't really hit the critical mass that turned the tide in places like Brooklyn, Northern Liberties, Boston's North End and other examples of urban renewal. When/if it will happen is anyone's guess. Every neighborhood has it's own quirks and unique circumstances and there's no one formula or strategy that is a one-size-fits-all solution. Needless to say I'd love to see it happen. Like a lot of folks who grew up in nearby Hamilton, I had deep roots in the city. I was born there, spent a lot of time with family there, was baptized, made first communion and confirmation there, and of course ate a lot of great meals there. Unfortunately there's a long way to go. Trenton was a very different place when my mom (born and raised there) was my age. Perhaps it will be a very different place once again when my daughter (just turned one) is my age.

I think one reason the tide hasn't turned in Trenton the way it has turned in Boston and Brooklyn is essentially just that. Trenton isn't Boston or Brooklyn. It has a geographical disadvantage. Trenton is small and located in between two major metropolitan areas. I might surmise that some of these persons would opt for New York or Philadelphia, not to mention people from other cities go to New York, Boston, and Philadelphia. When alot of people choose New Jersey, they choose Newark or Jersey City because of the very close proximity to New York. Trenton is in the middle of the state, close enough to get to NYC, but far enough not to be part of it, and small, so it might have to compete with Newark or Jersey City.

[the nation is still angry]

Originally Posted by EBWick

Sure people were po'd. But a better solution to burning down the neighborhood you live in is vote in people that might actually help you. Nobody wants to live in a war zone. This happened all over the country, not just in Trenton.

you clearly are miseducated and don't know what you're talking about.

the problem with some jersey folks as well as america in general is that they speak of things they have no idea of and talk about solutions without even trying to make sense of them to begin with.

do you even have any idea what was going on during that time? do you even realize or for that matter anything with the voting issues concerning blacks and the political issues as well? know what you're talking about first THEN speak.